Holder Of Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT

A holder of electronic devices is provided, including a main body having a large area, a first covering part, and a second covering part on two opposite side of the main body, and at least a connecting element for connecting at least two of the main body, the first covering part and the second covering part to form a space with the main body, the first covering part, and the second covering part. The lower part of the main body includes at least a protruding stop part so that the electronic device can be held inside the space.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a holder of electronic devices, and more specifically to a holder for holding electronic devices of various sizes in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The holder of the present invention is for holding electronic devices, such as mobile phone, PDA, and so on, inside a vehicle. Conventional holders sued in a vehicle usually include clippers, for example, with a fixed base having two clippers that moves laterally with respect to each other. The movement of the clippers are enabled and controlled by gears, resilient springs, and connecting parts. Once the electronic device is held by the clippers, the clippers are locked to hold the device in place. To release the device from the holder, the user must push the clippers apart either manually or by pressing a release button that activates a releasing mechanism. This design has several disadvantages. The first is that the mechanical structure for controlling the clipper movement may be noise due to the friction of the gears and related parts. In addition, it is inconvenient for the user as the user must re-adjust the clippers every time an electronic device is placed into the holder or release from the holder, even though it is the same electronic device. Finally, to put the electronic device in the holder and to release the electronic devices from the holder, the user must push the clippers sufficiently apart in order to accommodate the electronic device. This may cause further inconvenience as the electronic device may fall from the far-apart clippers. All the above disadvantages demands the new design for a holder of electronic device used in a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned drawback of conventional clipping holder of electronic devices. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a holder of electronic device. The main feature of the holder is an adjustable space formed with the main body, a first covering part, a second covering part to hold an electronic device. A connecting part is used to adjust the distance between the first covering part and the second covering part in order to adjust the space to accommodate devices of different sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder of electronic device with a simple structure that is convenient to use. By using the covering parts to form a adjustable space to hold the electronic device, the present invention can be used for holding the same electronic device without to adjust the space every time the device is released from the holder. As the structure is simpler than the clipping holder, the present invention has a lower manufacturing cost and shows more market competitiveness.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a holder of electronic devices, including a main body having a large area, a first covering part, and a second covering part on two opposite side of the main body, and at least a connecting element for connecting at least two of the main body, the first covering part and the second covering part to form a space with the main body, the first covering part, and the second covering part. The lower part of the main body includes at least a protruding stop part so that the electronic device can be held inside the space.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the examples and references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the second surface of the main body to match with a fixed structure;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the main body, the first covering part, and the second covering part;

FIG. 4 shows the present invention in actual use of holding a mobile phone;

FIG. 5A shows the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows the second embodiment of the present invention of actual holding a mobile phone;

FIG. 6A shows the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B shows the third embodiment of the present invention of actual use; and

FIG. 7 shows the schematic view of the structure of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional schematic view of a holder of electronic device of the present invention. The electronic device can be a small size mobile phone, PDA, or MP3 player. The holder includes a main body 1, a covering part 2, a second covering part 3, and at least a connecting element 4. Main body 1 includes a first surface 11 having a large area, and a second surface 12 on the opposite side, as shown in FIG. 2 second surface 12 include an engaging part 13, and the lower part of first surface 11 includes at least a stop part 14 for stopping the electronic device placed on first surface 11 of main body 1 from sliding out. The location of stop part 14 can be as close to the bottom edge of first surface as possible. First covering part 2 and second covering part 3 are on the opposite sides of main body 1, respectively. First covering part 2 and second covering part 3 are made of resilient and bendable material, which can restore to the original form. Connecting element 4 is connected respectively to the top edge of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 so that connecting element 4, first covering part 2, second covering part 3 and first surface 11 of main body 1 form a space 15 to accommodate the electronic device. The resilience of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 will maintain space 15 from crumbling after the electronic device is retrieved from space 15, so that the electronic device can be easily placed into space 15.

Connecting element 14 is a string in this embodiment; however, it can also be a belt or other types of connecting components, such as elastic band, and so on. The top edge of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 include a plurality of holes 21, 31 so that connecting element 4, e.g., the string, can be used to string through holes 21, 32 and is tied together to connect first covering part 2 and second covering part 3. By adjusting the length of the string connecting first covering part 2 and second covering part 3, the size of space 15 can be adjusted to accommodate different size electronic devices. In addition, the shape of space 15 can also be adjusted to accommodate different shape electronic devices. The resilience of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 will tighten space 15 slightly so that electronic device inside space 15 can be held in place.

FIG. 2 shows engaging part 13 on second surface 12 of main body 1. Engaging part 13 is for engaging the holder of the present invention to other auxiliary fixed structure so that the holder can be fixed to a specific location inside the vehicle, such as on the dash board, or air-conditioning vent. Therefore, the shape and the structure of engaging part 13 must match a fixed structure 6 that is used. In this embodiment, engaging part 13 includes a T-shaped engaging hole 131, and fixed structure 6 includes a protruding T-shaped engaging block 61. Engaging block 61 is used to engage engaging hole 131. However, other types of engaging mechanisms that are able to engage the holder of the present invention to a fixed structure can also be used.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which main body 1, first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 form a large-area component, but with the thickness and the internal material of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 different from those of main body 1. The material of main body 1 is more rigid, while the material of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 is more resilient and bendable. When connecting element 4 strings through holes 21, 31 and is tightened, the resilience of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 allows the covering parts to fold over main body 1, while main body 1 maintains the original large-area shape. This forms a space 15 to accommodate the electronic device.

Some components of the present invention can be further designed and manufactured to facilitate the convenient use. For example, it is preferable that first surface 11 of main body 1 is non-smooth or further includes attachable material so as to increase the friction and prevent the electronic device from sliding down. In addition, the edge near where the electronic device is placed into or retrieved from can be design to include an outward arc surface so that it is easy for the electronic device to enter the space. Further more, stop part 14 at the lower part of main body 1 can be designed as two small separate protruding blocks so that the plug or socket at the bottom of the electronic device can be easily attached to a power supply or an earphone. The position of stop part 14 can also be adjustable, such as sliding laterally.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention in actual use. When the holder of the present invention is used, an electronic device 5 (a mobile phone in this embodiment) is placed inside space 15, and connecting element 4 is tightened to pull first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 to snuggle onto electronic device 5 due to the resilience of the material. Stop part 14 of main body 1 stops electronic device 5 from sliding down from the holder. After electronic device 5 is retrieved from the holder, first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 maintain the shape of space 15 due to the resilient material. When electronic device 5 is placed inside the holder again, the shape of space 15 will be adjusted to accommodate the electronic device. Therefore, the holder can be repeatedly used.

FIG. 5A shows the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference is in the stop part 14 a. Stop part 14 a is engaged to main body 1, and can be tilted laterally. Stop part 14 a includes a connecting hole 141. The lower part of connecting hole 141 is larger, and the top part forms a mouth 142. The size of mouth 142 is smaller than connecting element 4 so that when connecting element passes through connecting hole 141, connecting element will be stopped at mouth 142. As shown in FIG. 5B, when electronic device 5 is inside space 15, stop part 14 a is pulled and tilting toward the center. Connecting element 4 is bended around stop part 14 a and electronic device 5 to strengthen the tightness of connecting element 4 which prevents electronic device 5 from sliding and prevents connecting element 4 from loosing from stop part 14 a. The stop part of this embodiment further enhances the ease of use of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure of connecting element 4 a is different from the previous embodiments. There are two connecting elements 4 a, connected respectively to the top of first covering part 2 and second covering part 3. Connecting elements 4 a can be made of soft material for wrapping and in the shape of a string or a belt. In actual use, connecting elements 4 a can be tied together, as in previous embodiment, to form a space with main body 1, first covering part 2, and second covering part 3. One end of connecting elements 4 a can also pass through a hole 16 on main body 1, and tied together on second surface 12 of main body 1 for fixation. In this embodiment, space 15 is formed by main body 1, first covering part 2, second covering part 3, and two connecting elements 4 a.

In the above embodiments, first covering part 2 and second covering pat 3 are symmetrically manufactured in both number and shape. However, first covering part 2 and second part 3 are not necessarily symmetrical in either number or shape. For example, there can be two first covering parts 2, and only one second covering part 3. One connecting element 4 is then used to connect two first covering parts 2 and a second covering part 3 to form the space with main body 1. It is also possible that the top of each first covering part 2 and each second covering part 3 include a connecting element, and all the connecting elements are connected together to form the space with main body 1.

FIG. 7 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, first covering part 2 and second covering part 3 are moveable. Second surface 12 of main body 1 at least include a large-area touch fastener 17. The front sedge of detachable first covering part 2 a and second covering part 3 a also includes respective a touch fastener 22, 32, and a connecting element 4 a. By changing the position of first covering part 2 a and second covering part 3 a on touch fastener 17, the distance between first covering part 2 a and second covering part 3 a can be adjusted, thus changing the size of space 15 to accommodate different-size electronic devices.

In summary, the holder of the present invention includes a main body 1 with a first covering part 2 and a second covering part on the opposite side, and a connecting element 4 to connect first covering part 2, second covering part 3, and main body 1 to form a space 15 on s first surface 11 of main body 1. Space 15 can hold an electronic device and provides a different way of holding structure for electronic devices.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details described thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A holder of electronic device, comprising: a main body, having a large-area first surface with at least a protruding stop part on the lower part of said first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface, said second surface having an engaging part; at least a first covering part, on one side of said main body; at least a second covering part, on one side of said main body opposite to said first covering part; and at least a connecting element, for connecting at least two of said main body, said first covering part, and said second covering part so as to form a space with said connected main body, first covering part, and second covering part, said space able to hold said electronic device.
 2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first covering part and second covering part are resilient, and can maintain said space on said main body when connected by said connecting element.
 3. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting element can be adjusted to change the distance between said main body, first covering part and second covering part when connecting, so as to change the size of said space.
 4. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first covering part and second covering part are affixed to said main body.
 5. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engaging part can engage an auxiliary fixed structure.
 6. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting element is a string or belt passing through a plurality of holes on said first covering part and second covering part, and tied together to connect said first covering part and second covering part.
 7. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop part is affixed to said main body and can be tilted, said stop part has holes so that said connecting element can pass through and be stopped from disengaged from said stop part.
 8. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said first covering parts is the same as the number of said second covering parts.
 9. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said first covering parts is different from the number of said second covering parts.
 10. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first covering part and second covering part is adjustably attached to said main body.
 11. The holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjustment method is to have a large-area touch fastener on said second surface of said main body, and said adjustably attached covering part has touch fastener.
 12. The holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the width of said touch fastener on said second surface is wider than the width of the area without touch fastener on said main body. 